The origins of value, told through the objects that created it.
The Origins of Value collection comprises 595 historical financial documents — bonds, stock certificates, banknotes, prospectuses and more — spanning the 14th through 20th centuries and drawn from 75 countries. Assembled at Yale’s International Center for Finance, it is one of the most significant collections of early financial instruments in the world.
Representing 28 languages and 83 currencies, each document tells a story of commerce, innovation and risk. Together, they form a remarkable record of how societies have organized capital, financed exploration and weathered financial crises — from the South Sea Bubble to the modern era.
The items in this collection are held in a variety of locations. Much of the collection is housed at the International Center for Finance at the Yale School of Management; additional pieces are privately held or jointly acquired and housed at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University. Together, these holdings reflect the collaborative spirit that has shaped the collection and broadened access to these rare historical financial documents.
This collection includes original materials tied to slavery, colonialism, and war. They are presented unaltered, to preserve the historical evidence of the social conditions and attitudes of their time; inclusion is not an endorsement by Yale University. If something here is in error, please tell us via the contact form below.
International Center for Finance
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